Jim Neely King County Solid Waste Division Local Hazardous Waste Management Program of King County

 Founded 1991  Partnership among governmental agencies and King County cities  In 2010, served 44,267 households and 440 small businesses (SQGs); costs were $3.2 million  Four permanent/semi-permanent facilities  21 ‘Wastemobile events in 13 cities per year

Location # of SitesPounds Retail15327,104 MRW Facilities176,432 Gov’t Facilities4313,086 Businesses4574,893 King County, WA Collection Rate Source: Call2Recycle

 Collected lithium and button batteries beginning 2005  Collected alkaline batteries at cities since 2002  Collected alkaline batteries at HHW facilities beginning 2011  Expect to collect approximately 120,000 pounds alkaline batteries in 2012

 Alkaline batteries are not a hazardous waste in Washington State and most other states.  So why collect? Concern regarding aquatic toxicity and manganese/ zinc in landfills Around 1.5 million pounds of ‘household batteries’ are disposed annually in the garbage in King County; potential waste of resources Public perception and demand

ProgramCollect Waste Mgt Batteries Cost of Mgt Total Waste Mgt Cost % Total Waste Mgt Cost Portland MetroYRecycle $ 50,000 $ 900,0005.6% Oregon Rural Areas (DEQ)YLandfill $ 4,900 NR -- Mason County, WAYLandfill $ 1,500 $ 45,0003.3% Lewis County, WAYLandfill $ 350 $ 43,0000.8% Clark County, WAYRecycle $ 20,000 $ 300,0006.7% Ada County, IDN Lane County, ORYLandfill $ 260 $ 120,0000.2% Boulder County, CON Thurston County, WAN Pacific County, WAYLandfill $ 150 NR -- Kittatas County, WAYLandfill $ 1,660 $ 32,0005.2% Kitsap County, WAYLandfill $ 8,000 $ 170,0004.7% Whatcom County, WAN Average for Landfill3% Average for Recycle6% Survey of Alkaline Battery Management (Costs Exclude Collection/Sorting)

 Pyrometalurgical- Use heat to break into components or add as ingredient (e.g., steel mills)  Mechanical- hammer mill, shredder  Chemical- acid digestion (Europe only)

 Cost of $1 per pound for recycling; sent to California then Pennsylvania Steel Mill  Questionable benefits versus environmental impact of transportation  Most environmental damage from alkaline batteries occurs during raw material extraction and manufacturing versus disposal

 Began discussions in 2009; vendor and regulatory issues took over a year to address  Began collection in March 2011  Cost = $0.32 per pound (less than 1/3 rd of former contract price)  Transportation reduced from around 4,000 miles to 25 miles

Source: U.S. EPA

 Rechargeable Battery Promotion Newer technologies comparable to single use For disposable batteries, most environmental damage (over 90%) occurs during raw material extraction and production versus end-of–life management. Source: “Lifecycle Impact of Alkaline Batteries” MIT 2011

 DOT (PHMSA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Retail employee training in hazardous materials shipping May impose additional shipping requirements Comment Period Ends October 3 rd

 King County (LHWMP) collects all types of household batteries  Using innovative approach to recycling alkaline batteries via local steel mill  Strongly support product stewardship/ retail take back  Support transition to rechargeable versus disposable batteries